David Stern: No issues with Heat's Big Three or Arison

DALLAS — The Miami Heat's attempted NBA takeover by signing LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in July 2010? Not an issue, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Sunday.

Micky Arison voting against the new collective-bargaining agreement crafted by the league? No problem, Stern said.

James viewed as aloof on the way to last season's NBA Finals? All part of the growing process, Stern reasoned.

At American Airlines Center for the Dallas Mavericks' 2011 championship ceremony, Stern touched on several Miami Heat issues during a state-of-the-league discussion, prior to the Heat's 105-94 victory.

He said the statute of limitations has expired when it comes to the machinations that drew James, Wade and Bosh together.

"I think that players who are able to move from team to team because they are free agents, having played under their contracts, their rookie extension, whatever it is, and find a team that is managed well enough to be under the cap, so that it can acquire more than one player, I think that's fine," Stern said.

"And the Heat are an interesting and fun team, so they engender a lot of enthusiasm and following."

The irony was that Stern's first post-lockout appearance came in a game where both owners voted against the new CBA, with Dallas' Mark Cuban one of the four other owners besides Arison who cast a no vote.

"I think Micky cast it because the revenue sharing has some quirks to it that he didn't appreciate and Mark, too," Stern said. "But that's fine. Mark was an important contributor on the labor-relations committee and on the planning committee that yielded the result."

Of Arison, who acknowledged he voted against the deal only after he knew it had already received the required majority, Stern said, "It doesn't send any signal whatsoever."

Then there was Stern's take on James, who insisted his goal this season is to go from polarizing figure to one simply playing for the joy of the game.

"I see a level of acceptance and maturity that is fun to watch somebody grow," Stern said. "He's clearly saying he might have said a few things differently, etc., and he's going to let his talent do the talking for him.

On other matters, Stern said he does not see a need for a "franchise" tag in the NBA because the more-stringent luxury tax that kicks in two seasons from now will provide a drag on the market.

"A team that goes into the tax in year three with a $20 million player is going to pay $45 million in tax money," he said. "We'll see who does that."

He also downplayed the recent push for trades from impending free agents, such as Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.

"If a player has played a number of years in the league, seven, eight, and he says, 'I don't want to re-sign in this particular city. I have a different choice,' it doesn't concern us at all that he has that option," Stern said. "This league has embraced free agency and has for decades, and that's fine with us."

Battier returns

Sidelined by a strained quadriceps since the opening days of training camp, forward Shane Battier made a 4-minute, 3-second cameo in the first half, missing his only attempt of the game, a 3-pointer.

"I didn't want to push it in the second half," coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Battier said he appreciated the prudence.

"It felt great," the Heat's prime offseason free-agent acquisition said. "Obviously my conditioning is not where it needs to be.

"But I don't feel like my quad limited me in any way."

Familiar view

When the Mavericks went down by 35 in the third quarter, the game had a familiar feel for the Heat. No sooner did the Heat celebrate their championship from the previous season in their 2006 opener then the Chicago Bulls buried them 108-66 at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"The pregame ceremony? No excuse there," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "We're going to have to play better basketball."